Image of New Site of Roosevelt Island Public Library at 504 Main Street

Mr. Kellner adds:

The New York Public Library has already initiated the Roosevelt Island Library project with the New York City Department of Design & Construction (DDC), which begin working on architect selection, which, along with the contract development and registration process, will take approximately five months or so. Current projected schedule is to start design 12/2013 or 1/2014, start construction some time in 2015, and open the new branch in 2017, and the current budget is approximately $4.5 million. Capital funding has been provided by the Mayor, City Counci Member Jessica Lappin and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

The NYPL issued this Press Release earlier today:

The New York Public Library has taken a critical step in its plan to build a new and improved library on Roosevelt Island.

On July 1 the Library signed a lease for a property on the ground floor at 504 Main Street, which will be the site of a new Roosevelt Island branch. The new library will be more than double the size of the current library – which is only a short distance away at 524 Main Street – and is expected to be completed in 2017.

“The Roosevelt Island Library has been a beloved institution on the Island since its beginning in 1976,” said NYPL President Tony Marx. “After nearly 40 years, this ever-growing community requires a new and improved building that can support the neighborhood and its residents. This new space, a short walk from the current location, is a wonderful opportunity for our staff to further its work on Roosevelt Island, accommodate the residents’ need for the Library’s resources and services, and expand what we can offer. ”

The new library will be approximately 5,200 square feet, more than double the 2,500 square feet offered at the current Roosevelt Island branch. It will offer the public materials including books, CDs and DVDs, as well as computers, wi-fi capabilities and programming spaces. It will also be ADA accessible. During the construction of the new building, the existing branch will remain open to the public.

In Fiscal Year 2012, the Roosevelt Island Library received almost 90,000 visits, and circulated over 115,000 items.

Funding for the new branch, which totals $5.5 million, has been provided by City Council Member Jessica Lappin and the City Council, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, and Mayor Bloomberg

"I am thrilled that the lease has been signed for the new Roosevelt Island Library. And I am proud to have secured $ 4 million dollars in capital funding to make this library a reality. With the funding in place and the lease signed, our dream of a new, state-of-the art library that can accommodate an ever growing population of Roosevelt Islanders, is now coming true," said Council Member Jessica Lappin, representative of the 5th District of Manhattan.

“Our City’s public libraries are an invaluable gateway to knowledge and learning for New Yorkers of all ages and economic backgrounds. That’s why we must ensure that they are growing with the demands and needs of our residents,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, whose office provided $1 million in capital funds for the development of the library. “I’m extremely pleased that my office could help support the badly needed expansion of a library on Roosevelt Island. From literature to computer access, it’s my hope that all nearby residents will be able to enjoy these additional resources and services.”

The project is being managed by the New York City Department of Design and Construction.

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) will undertake certain construction work to assist the NYPL relocation. In addition to the installation of new exterior doors and windows and a new building entrance, RIOC will demolish the interior to clear the way for the new and improved library.

“The RIOC Board has long been committed to assisting with the expansion of the library, and is pleased that with this development the library will double in size. The magnified presence of the library will greatly benefit Island residents and visitors, while adding to the momentum of the revitalization of our Main Street,” said a RIOC spokesperson.

The landlord for the library is Hudson Related Retail LLC (“HRR”). HRR entered into a Master Retail Sublease agreement with RIOC in August 2011 in order to lead the Roosevelt Island Main Street corridor rejuvenation.

Created in 1976 by Dorothy and Herman Reade, the one-room Roosevelt Island Community Library served residents for 20 years. In 1997, the Roosevelt Island Library became one of The New York Public Library’s local branches serving the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island.

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Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.

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